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Landmark School Transfer Case Goes To Trial Today

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CLAYTON, Mo. (KMOX) - Educators and parents throughout the St. Louis region will be keeping a close eye on proceedings inside a Clayton courtroom.

Trial gets underway on “Turner vs. the School District of Clayton”, which revolves around a 1993 state law stating that children in failing districts may transfer to schools in neighboring accredited districts, with the failing district picking up the costs.

Several year ago, one mother asked the Clayton School District to send tuition bills for her two children, already enrolled in Clayton schools, to the St. Louis Public School district.

Clayton officials balked at the request, which prompted several parents to file a class-action lawsuit, which was quickly followed by others statewide.

This will be the second time that St. Louis County Circuit Judge David Lee Vincent III will consider the case.

He did so in 2008 but didn’t order a trial at that time.

Late last year KMOX News reported that the Cooperating School Districts group, which wants changes in the transfer law, conducted an independent financial analysis.

They determined that up to one-third of city students would tranfser, costing St. Louis city schools up to $175 million, including $32 million to send private and parochial students to county schools.